"He's escaped." During the brief, spellbound silence which followed his announcement, Fenn advanced slowly into the room.

It chanced that during their informal discussion, the chair at the head of the table had been left unoccupied.

The newcomer hesitated for a single second, then removed his hat, laid it on the floor by his side, and sank into the vacant seat.
He glanced somewhat defiantly towards Catherine.

He seemed to know quite well from whence the challenge of his words would come.
"You tell us," Catherine said, mastering her emotion with an effort, "that Julian Orden, whom we now know to be `Paul Fiske', has escaped.
Just what do you mean ?" "I can scarcely reduce my statement to plainer words," Fenn replied, "but I will try.

The danger in which we stood through the miscarriage of that packet was appreciated by every one of the Council.